June 2, 2026
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Breaking News
  • [ May 30, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 50th Starlink mission of 2026 Falcon 9
  • [ May 29, 2026 ] ULA launches 29 Amazon Leo satellites on Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Atlas 5
  • [ May 29, 2026 ] Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes during prelaunch testing at Cape Canaveral Mission Reports
  • [ May 29, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9
  • [ May 27, 2026 ] FAA requires SpaceX-led mishap investigation before resumption of Starship launches Mission Reports

April 14, 1981: Landing of Columbia on STS-1

April 14, 2016 Justin Ray

VIDEO: The winged spaceship Columbia returned to Earth with a pinpoint landing at Edwards Air Force Base on this day 35 years ago, concluding the maiden flight of the space shuttle.

  • Bob Crippen
  • Columbia
  • John Young
  • Landing
  • OTD
  • Space Shuttle
  • STS-1

Related Articles

Mission Reports

Rapid-fire engine tests raise hopes for DARPA’s planned reusable spaceplane

July 18, 2018 Stephen Clark

A series of unprecedented back-to-back test-firings of a rocket engine originally developed for NASA’s space shuttle concluded earlier this month, giving engineers data crucial to achieving rapid 24-hour turnarounds planned for a U.S. military-funded reusable winged booster under construction at Boeing, government and industry officials said.

Uncategorized

OTD…Jan. 31 and Apollo 14

January 31, 2016 Justin Ray

Today in 1971…The launch of Apollo 14 to Fra Mauro with Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa and Edgar Mitchell.

News

Shuttle fuel tank comes ashore in California for Endeavour museum exhibit

May 18, 2016 Justin Ray

A five-week, 5,000-mile sea trek of the last space shuttle external fuel tank pulled into port today for a parade through the urban jungle of Southern California on Saturday to its final destination.

News Headlines

  • SpaceX launches 50th Starlink mission of 2026
    May 30, 2026
  • ULA launches 29 Amazon Leo satellites on Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral
    May 29, 2026
  • Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes during prelaunch testing at Cape Canaveral
    May 29, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
    May 29, 2026
  • FAA requires SpaceX-led mishap investigation before resumption of Starship launches
    May 27, 2026
  • NASA outlines nearly $1 billion investment into initial Moon Base missions
    May 27, 2026
  • Preview: NASA updates progress towards established a Moon Base, Artemis 3 mission
    May 26, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
    May 26, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on Memorial Day
    May 24, 2026
  • Musk praises “epic” Super Heavy-Starship launch
    May 23, 2026
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